Thương Vũ Kiếp — Tập 2: Đóa Liên Hoa Cuối Cùng

The Cataclysm of the Azure Heavens Ep.2: The Last Lotus Within the solemn Lotus Pond, of 99,999 blossoms, 99,998 sacred lotuses had already opened in full radiance, becoming that many Great Gods seated in solemn stillness within — yet one last lotus had not opened. That Dharma Lotus stayed folded, waiting, its light shifting ceaselessly and strangely: now a holy white, now a fathomless black, now a golden hue full of compassion, now turning to an eerie blood-red. All lay silent beneath the gaze of the Dharma King and the gods. The Falun Holy King, majestic in form, still as a mountain, golden radiance streaming from him, smiled. He had understood. His compassionate eyes swept the beings of the Fa-realm, and he spoke with solemn voice: “Today I and these 99,998 sacred lotuses descend from the Fa-realm into the celestial body below, then lower still, down to the human level of the Three Realms. How the lower celestial bodies are to be saved, I shall discuss with all the gods of the Fa-realm.” As his words ended, ten thousand rays burst forth. From his sea of wisdom rose a sacred Wheel of Fa-Rectification, blazing ten thousand yards, growing vast until it covered the whole sky of the Fa-realm. Slowly the Wheel turned, gathering Fa-light from the seas of consciousness of countless worlds of gods. The colours of the Wheel interwove and merged, changing endlessly. By this boundless light that veiled heaven and earth, the gods of the Fa-realm began to exchange their great thoughts. As the light of the Wheel swept every world, shaking them layer upon layer, a majestic sight appeared: one fifth of the Great Gods of the Fa-realm suddenly shone with blood-red light, dazzling among the holy gods. They were the Buddhas, Taos and Gods of greatest power and wisdom, chosen by the great will of the gods to take part directly with the Holy King in rectifying heaven and earth. Willing or not, they were destined to bear the great task of aiding the Holy King. Bathed in his compassion, deep and boundless as the ocean, the proud hearts of that fifth of the Great Gods grew soft and serene. Together they left their great jewelled lotus thrones and knelt with palms joined before the Holy King's radiant throne, crying as one: “May the Holy King grieve no more! When the Holy King descends to the human world, we shall use all our divine powers to turn the Wheel of Fa-Rectification and move the heavens, helping the Holy King fulfil the great vow of Fa-Rectification. May the Holy King grieve no more!” Thrice the solemn plea rang out. But the Holy King only kept his silence. At that very solemn moment, the last lotus in the Lotus Pond suddenly burst into radiant bloom. Half-closed still, its blood-red light already lit heaven and earth, casting four rays in turn: blood-red, holy white, mysterious black, and blazing gold. From the light of the blood-red Great Gods a young boy stepped forth — it was Xuanqing. Slender of form, he wore a robe of pure and holy white, now steeped in the blood-red light. Before his chest a taiji turned slowly, the light of yin and yang shifting from red to black to blue. Two Fa-swords, one white, one black, stood planted at his shoulders. Xuanqing came beneath the lotus throne, knelt with palms joined, and made a vow that shook heaven and earth. He vowed to follow the Holy King down to the human world and spread the Great Fa, and spoke these resolute words: “I vow to use every means, to take the form of a demon king and temper the gods, so as to add to their might and virtue.” He staked his very life, vowing that if he broke this oath, his form and spirit would be utterly destroyed, never to return to the sacred Fa-realm. That bitter, valiant oath spoken, his whole body blazed like sun and moon, the blood-red light around him flaring like fire. Thrice Xuanqing repeated his vow. The Holy King sighed quietly. Still he said nothing, solemn and unmoving as Mount Sumeru, golden light flooding the vast heaven and earth. In that settled hush, from the Lotus Pond a Great White Lotus rose slowly. The honoured god seated within was the Sun-Moon-Light Tathagata, white as jade, robed in pure and spotless white, his kasaya baring the right shoulder, a disc of white light circling him. He came to Xuanqing's side, knelt with palms joined, and smiled gently. Then he turned to the Holy King, his voice firm in its protection: “I ask only that the Holy King grieve no more. This oath of Xuanqing's is perilous. When demons bring chaos in time to come, Sun-Moon-Light will surely save him by a hundred thousand means, and will never abandon gods lost in delusion like Xuanqing. May the Holy King grieve no more.” At once the remaining 99,997 gods seated in the Lotus Pond cried out as one: “May the Holy King grieve no more! In the age of the Dharma's end we shall not abandon fellow cultivators fallen into the demon way; we shall surely save them. By the bond of all 99,999 Dharma Lotuses of this Lotus Pond, we shall advance together and return together to the Fa-realm.” Before such grace and such fellowship, Xuanqing trembled from head to foot, tears brimming at his eyes, his sorrow soothed by the peerless bond of every Dharma Lotus. At this the Holy King showed his joy. His golden radiance rippled out like waves of compassion, lighting the innermost depths of every life in the vast Fa-realm. Beneath that golden radiance, the Fa-canon above the Holy King's crown sent forth a seven-hued rainbow glow, and from it a turning Falun flew out, becoming a sacred oath that entered the deepest place within Xuanqing's consciousness, sealing that fated vow. The Holy King's compassionate gaze swept all beings, and he spoke with grave dignity: “The passage of rebirth down to the human world is perilous, beyond all prediction. You and the gods of this Fa-realm must treat well these 99,999 sacred lotuses — for their attaining the Fa and cultivating, add wholesome affinity, and add no adverse affinity. These sacred lotuses are the very future and the root of hope for the whole Fa-realm.” He charged the gods not joining the Fa-Rectification to watch in stillness, and never to act rashly before the unforeseeable. To Xuanqing the Holy King gave his decree: his karmic ties being unfinished, let him remain a while in this Fa-realm, and wait until the last sacred lotus opens fully, then descend to the hazy human world. As he finished, flower-rain filled the sky, thunder pealed and shook the heavens, and celestial music drifted slow. In boundless majestic light, the Holy King and countless sacred lotuses passed on, fading from sight, leaving the tear-filled eyes of the gods of the Fa-realm above. Only the last Dharma Lotus remained, bearing Xuanqing's form. Still half-closed, it flickered in silence in the Lotus Pond, bathed in the radiance of the Wheel of Fa-Rectification still turning in the Fa-realm sky. Join us for the next episode of The Cataclysm of the Azure Heavens.